The Red Lake Warriors jumped out to an 8-0 lead and never trailed enroute to the win over Fosston. The victory puts the Lady Warriors into the Section 8A championmship game on Friday, March 8th against Stephen-Argyle (7:00 pm on 96.7 FM). The Greyhounds scored their first points with 14:46 remaining in the first half and eventually cut the deficit to two at 11-9. That would be as close as the Greyhounds would get for the rest of the game. The Greyhounds and Warriors met in the Section 8A Quarterfinals last year but did not face each other during the regular season this year. Gerika Kingbird led Red Lake with 17 points as the Warriors improved to 20-7 overall. Autumn Holthusen hit 3 three pointers in the first half and ended up with 15 points for Red Lake. Jaclyn Hubbard closed out her career as a Fosston Greyhound with 14 points and 8 rebounds as the Greyhounds end their season at 19-9. Hubbard, Kendra Eckman and McKinsey Rosendahl are the three seniors on this years Fosston team. The Greyhounds turned the ball over 28 times, due in large part to the pressure defense applied by the Warriors. The Warriors had to overcome some foul trouble with Kelanna McClain fouling out of the game with 11:09 remaining in the game. When Red Lake plays Stephen-Argyle on Friday, it will be a rematch of last years Section 8A final which Stephen-Argyle won 56-49.

FOSSTON: (19-9)

28 turnovers

12 of 17 at the fre throwl line

Jaclyn Hubbard 14 points/8 rebounds

Katelyn Vesledahl 10 points/8 rebounds

Kora Norland 8 points (2 three pointers)

Kinsley Duppong 7 points

Jenna Manecke 5 points

Jaime Carlin 2 points

Brooklyn Ostenaa 1 point

RED LAKE: (20-7)

17 turnovers

4 of 10 at the free throwl line

Gerika Kingbird 17 points (2 three pointers)

Autumn Holthusen 15 points (3 three pointers)/5 rebounds

Angel McClain 9 points/7 rebounds

Kaylynn Chaboyea 5 points

LaTayla Pemberton 5 points

Rose McClain 4 points

Kelanna McClain 3 points/3 rebounds

FROM THE BEMIDJI PIONEER STAFF REPORT

THIEF RIVER FALLS -- The Red Lake High School girls basketball team will return to the Section 8A title game for the third straight season after picking up a 58-47 win over Fosston in the 8A East subsection final Tuesday night in Thief River Falls.

The top-seeded Warriors (20-7) led from start to finish, jumping out to an 8-0 lead. Red Lake began to pull further away late in the first half and took a 32-17 halftime lead, which matched its largest of the game at the time.

The Warriors assumed a 19-point lead when Gerika Kingbird splashed a three to make it 43-24 with about 12 minutes remaining in the game.

Despite Kelanna McClain fouling out with 11 minutes to play, the second-seeded Greyhounds (19-9) could only manage to pull within 11 points as the clock wound down in the closing seconds. By then it was too late as Red Lake came away with the victory and the East subsection title.

Turnovers plagued Fosston all night as the team sustained 28 in the loss, compared to just 17 for the Warriors.

Kingbird led all scorers with 17 points. Autumn Holthusen followed with 15 points, including a pivotal three consecutive 3-pointers she buried late in the first half.

Red Lake will face Stephen-Argyle in a rematch of last season's section title game at 7 p.m. Friday, March 8, back at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls. The Storm (26-1) claimed the West subsection title Tuesday night by topping Badger/Greenbush-Middle River 67-57.

The Warriors will hope to avenge a 56-49 loss to Stephen-Argyle in last year's section championship game. The Storm won the lone regular-season meeting between the teams 50-42 on Dec. 14 in Thief River Falls.

This year's matchup features the top seeds from both subsections. The winner will move on to the Class A state tournament next week in the Twin Cities.

The Stephen-Argyle Storm advanced to Friday's Section 8A championship game with a hard fought win over Badger/Greenbush-Middle River on Tuesday night. It was the third time that the Storm defeated the Gators this season. Despite missing three starters, the Gators stayed with the heavilly favored Storm. Freshman Riley Mooney hit a shot just before halftime to give Stephen-Argle a 35-33 lead at the half. The Gators would get to within four at 56-52 in the second half but could get no closer. Abi McGlynn led the Storm with 25 points as Stephen-Argyle improves to 27-1 overall. Alyssa Rinde led B/G-MR with 17 points as the Gators end their season at 15-14. Stephen-Argyle will play Red Lake for the Section 8A championship on Friday, March 8th (7:00 pm on 96.7 FM). Th Storm defeated the Warriors 56-49 in last years' Section 8A final. The only loss suffered by Stephen-Argyle came against Crookston during the regular season. Crookston will be playing Roseau for the Section 8AA championship on Friday, March 8th.